The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-04-29
.rUE LATE DIR. j. q. HOELAN DIS
OPINION.
a Physician Climbing the Editorial
stairs.
IkOKT,A DIS

The columns of the newspapers appear
to be flooded with proprietary medicine ad-
yertsements. As we cast our eye over
them. it brings to mind an article
that was published by the late DR.. Holland
in Scyj5nc1's Monthly. lie says: Never
theless. it is o fact that many of the best
proprietary medicines of the day were
more successful than many physicians, ana
most of them, it should be remembered,
were at irst discovered or used in actual
medical practice. When, however, any
shrcwd person, knowing their virtue, and
foreseeing their popularity, secures and adj
yertises them, then, in the opinion OF the
birnted, all virtue went ont OF them.
Is NOT this absurd This great man ap-
precated the real merits of popular reme-
dies. and the absurdity of chose that de-
rided them because public attention was
called TO the article and the evidence of
their cures. II most noted physician
should announce that he had made
study of any certain organ or disease OF
the body. or make his sign larger than the
code size. though he may have practised
medicine and been a leader in all medical
counsels. notwithstanding all this, if he
should presume to advertise.and decline to
give his discovery to The pnblie, he would
be pronounced quack and 4 humbus,
although he may have spent his entire life
and all his available funds in perfecting his
Investigations Again We say. absurd.
Ifan rlcer is found upon ones arm. and
is cured by some dear soul Of a grand
mother. outside of the code. it will be pro
nounced by the medical profession an ulcer
of little Importance. BIT if treated under
the code. causing sleepiess nights for 4
month. with the scientific treatment, viz,
plasters. washes, dosing with morphine,
arsenic and other vile substances, given to
prevent blood poisoning or deaden pain, and
yet the ulcer becomes malignant, and am
putation is made necessary at last, to save
life. vet all done according To the ''isms"
of the medical code. this is much more
gratifying TO the medical profession, and
adds more dignity to that distinguished
order than to be cured 10y the dear old
grandmother sremedy
This appears like severe arraignment,
yet We believe that it expresses the true
standing Of the medical profession in re-
gard to remedies disco yered outside Of their
special '.ismsf One of the most perplex-
ing things of the day is the popu-
larity Of certain remedies. especially
Warner safe cure, which we find for sale
everywhere. The physician of the highest
standing is ready to coneede its merits and
sustain the theories the propfietors haye
made--that is, that it benefits in most of
the ailments of the human system because
it insists in putting the kidneys in proper
condition, thereby aiding in throwing OF
the impurities Of the blood, While others
with less honesty and experience deride,
and are willing to see their patient die
scientifically. and according 10 the code,
rather than have him cured by this great
remedy. Yet We notice that the popular
ity Of the medicine continues to grow year
10y year. The liseoveier comes boldly be-
fore the people with lis merits, and pro
claims them from door to door in our opin-
ion much more honerably than the phys
iciln who, perchance. may secure 4 patient
from some catastrophe, and is permitted to
set 4 bone Of an arm or a finger. which he
does with great dignity. yet very soon
after takes the liberty to climb the editor
back stairs at > o'clock in the morning 10
have it announced in the morning paper
that .'Dr So-and-so was in attendance, ;"
AMI tAns secures for his benefit beautiful
and free advertisement. We shall leave it
to our readers to say which is the wiseSt
and most honorable.